German Car Zone

A 518-hp V10 Makes the R8 Magnificent


Since it first appeared as the Le Mans Quattro Concept at the Frankfurt auto show way back in September 2003, the Audi R8 has lived up to its hype and then some. But now we finally get to have a go at the 2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI V10 — the version of the R8 that we have always been waiting for, really.

Does it bother us one bit that this R8 with a V10 is just a longer and curvier Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4? Oh, yeah, sure, that really bothers us. Are you nuts?

We have driven this thundering, all-aluminum, all-wheel-drive

518-horsepower Porsche-stalker with immense pleasure over the likewise immensely pleasurable seaside hills of southern Spain. Audi has been telling us that the R8 would become a glorious combination of German practicality and Italian exuberance, and this drive in the 2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI Quattro shows us that the Bavarian company has delivered on this promise beyond our wildest expectations.

There's a reason why the 2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI V10's signature color is white, the traditional color of Germany in motorsports. This is more than just a fast car; it's a statement about Germany, about Audi. All that stuff about engineering with spiritual purpose? The hundreds and hundreds (and hundreds) of millions of dollars Audi has spent racing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the last decade?

Here is where it has led us.


Full Story: Edmunds Inside Line - 2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI V10 First Drive


M

Probably my favorite car right now.

Funny that - me too! I actually like it more than the 997 GT3 Mk2. Strewth, who'd've thought... Heresy.

Easily on my fav top five right now

This is what the SL65 BS should have been - handle and a driver's car like the R8 is.

To be fair to the SL65 BS, it is what it is... the ultimate SL variant. It was never intended to be supercar slayer a la LP640 or what not. Rather it is simply the ultimate expression of Mercedes Benz performance to be had on public roads. The basic foundation of the car (a peerless, luxury, dual-natured grand tourer) indicated that the SL65 was never going to be an out-and-out supercar.

The Audi R8 on the other hand, well now, despite its complete lack of supercar heritage or extrovertness, surprised all and sundry who've ever driven it. With hindsight it's quite easy to say that brand preconception overrode the recognition -based on common sense - of a purposely engineered optimum layout, but it did. People saw four rings and thought "it's another Audi". I'm telling you: I did at least.

But now, if you look at what the Audi is and how it's engineered, there should be no reason to doubt its superlative capability. In my opinion, the R8 range of sporting cars are the best value for money (proper) supercars money can buy.

SL65 BS have the look like its going to slaughter any roadcar on the street, too bad the exterior dont match the rest of the car. R8 look badass too but it delivers more for less money.

Sure, but in a straightline or travelling on a freeway - it probably will slaughter pretty much anything no?

I mean, I'd hate to be driving my R8 V10 manual on the open freeway and have the SL65 BS come monstering down the road at me. In that situation I don't think many cars this side of a Veyron would have a chance? What do you think?

But thats not my vision of a sportscar.

If I want something for freeway driving then SL65 or SL63 are better, probably better comfort as well.

and me in R8 V10 and a SL65 BS and other people for that matters, those two meeting on the freeway is very slim and it has never been a problem for me that there are faster cars than mine.
In that price league there are other tasty sportscar that I would spend my money on like LP640 or 599 GTB. No, I'm simply not a customer for Mercedes.

Well MB has a different way of doin cars than the rest of the Germans

Well,track aside which urself said it was irrelevant in real world,the SL65 black is gonna slaughter anything on the road Veyron excluded.

The only place where a hardcore Italian or German supercar to beat the SL65 BS is the tarck i can only imagine how tiny that possibility really is in real world.

So true,the R8 V10 is definitely the better track car but out of the track the SL65 BS simply owns'em all,imagine storming the autobahn in a Black machine..that's how MB makes it's performance cars,to rule Germany's roads.